05 March 2024 , 05:00
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You're not cleaning your air fryer properly, and it's making it less effective.
Air fryers have skyrocketed in popularity over the past couple of years, and now almost all of us have one sitting on our kitchen counters that we use for everything from chips to chicken wings. With the air fryer used for so many dishes, it needs regular cleaning after every use - but there's one part that many of us forget to clean.
Cleaning fans have highlighted the importance of making sure you not only clean the main compartment but also give the whole appliance a "deep clean" every few months. And this includes one part most of us would completely ignore - the heating element that's responsible for cooking our food.
The tip was shared in the comments of a post on the air fryer forum on Reddit after one person asked for "cleaning hacks" after hearing that "cleaning air fryers can be notoriously difficult". One commenter told them that cleaning the tray itself is a "no brainer" as you can simply use soap and water - but said deep cleaning every "couple of months" is vital.
They added: "Every couple of months (depending on use) let it cool down 100%, unplug, flip the unit over and wipe the heating element and what you can get to with a sponge.
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"Then, use the unit to steam clean itself for the rest you can't reach. I fill the tray with about 2-3 inches of water, add liquid soap, and a lemon. Run for 10-15 minutes and do this process three or four times. If the water is brown when you check it, replace it with clean water and more soap and keep going."
The commenter said that while this doesn't necessarily result in a "perfectly clean" air fryer, it does prevent your food from smelling of all the previous dishes you've fried in the appliance.
Others also shared their own cleaning tips, with many saying they leave theirs to soak while they eat the tasty dish they've just cooked, and then simply wipe it down once they've finished eating. Someone posted: "After I cook, while it is warm, I put warm water and soap in the bucket. Let sit while you eat. By the time you finish eating, use a sponge to clean. Problem solved."
Another commented: "We have Ninja two drawer, I clean them in the sink with soap and hot water, sometimes in the dishwasher. No problems either way," and a third added: "Boil some water in a kettle and use that to dissolve any fats."
Some commenters suggested buying air fryer liners to use instead of putting food directly into the tray. These can either be disposable or can be made of easily washable silicone and can be bought from places such as Amazon and Dunelm, and different sizes are available depending on the size and shape of your air fryer.